A report into Alec Baldwin’s fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust has found management “knew that firearm safety procedures were not being followed”.

New Mexico workplace safety regulators have issued the maximum fine against the film production company.

They said it “demonstrated plain indifference to employee safety by failing to review work practices and take corrective action”.

It imposed a $139,793 (£107,019) penalty.

Cinematographer Hutchins died after a prop gun held by Baldwin, 64, was fired during rehearsals last October. The actor was one of the film’s producers, as well as its star.

“Our investigation found that this tragic incident never would have happened if Rust Movie Productions, LLC had followed national film industry standards for firearm safety,” said Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney.

“This is a complete failure of the employer to follow recognized national protocols that keep employees safe.”

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New Mexico’s Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB) said those guidelines included:

Not bringing live ammunition onto any studio or lot; that safety meetings are held daily when firearms are being used; and that staff “refrain from pointing a firearm at anyone” except after consulting the armourer or other safety representative.

Lawyers have said the prop gun went off after Baldwin pointed it at Ms Hutchins during a scene set-up. The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured in the incident.

Baldwin has said he was pointing the gun at Ms Hutchins at her instruction, and that it fired without him pulling the trigger.

The actor is currently facing a number of lawsuits, including those brought by script supervisor Mamie Mitchell and head of lighting Serge Svetnoy, as well as Ms Hutchins’ family.

The incident also resulted in calls from politicians for increased state-sponsored firearms training.

New Mexico’s OHSB said its investigation covered 1,560 hours of staff time, 14 interviews, and review of 566 documents.

Hutchins, 42, grew up on an army base in the Russian Arctic, where her father served in the navy, before moving to Los Angeles to study film.

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